Helicopter rescue training prepares for disasters

The Maryland Army National Guard partners with the Baltimore County Police and Fire departments on May 8-9 for Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team training at Essex Sky Park.

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The agencies perform quarterly helicopter disaster training for water rescues.

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"We've been able to leverage the capability of everybody involved today for disaster response," Baltimore County Fire Department Lt. Michael J. Burna said.

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"Typically, helicopters aren't used very frequently, but when they are, it has to be rehearsed and you have to understand what the capabilities are," Burna said.

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"We generally train every 90 days," Burna said.

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"It has been a partnership. We've been exercising for the past five years, and the nice part of it is the capability changes with the aircraft. So, utilizing our county police helicopter, which is a smaller aircraft, is a day-to-day operation for us, but when we have these larger events, we need a much larger platform, and that's where we've been able to partner with the Maryland Air National Guard," Burna said.

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"Every time we do this -- I call it a production -- it becomes easier and easier," Burna said.

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"So, even though we struggle with it at times in training, when we have the real disaster, it's going to pay dividends and we know what to expect and we've rehearsed it," Burna said.

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"A lot of this came from Hurricane Katrina -- a lot of (standard operating procedure) training conducted prior to, and there were a lot of lessons learned," said Capt. Nicholas M. Kiaunis, operations officer, Maryland National Guard Aviation Support Facility.

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"Right now, we're just trying to keep up with everything we need to should an occasion arise," Kiaunis said.

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"We gain a relationship. Also, it helps us develop tactic procedures so we can improve and do it safely," Kiaunis said.

The Maryland Army National Guard partners with the Baltimore County Police and Fire departments on May 8-9 for Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team training at Essex Sky Park.

The agencies perform quarterly helicopter disaster training for water rescues.

"We've been able to leverage the capability of everybody involved today for disaster response," Baltimore County Fire Department Lt. Michael J. Burna said.

"Typically, helicopters aren't used very frequently, but when they are, it has to be rehearsed and you have to understand what the capabilities are," Burna said.

"We generally train every 90 days," Burna said.

"It has been a partnership. We've been exercising for the past five years, and the nice part of it is the capability changes with the aircraft. So, utilizing our county police helicopter, which is a smaller aircraft, is a day-to-day operation for us, but when we have these larger events, we need a much larger platform, and that's where we've been able to partner with the Maryland Air National Guard," Burna said.

"Every time we do this -- I call it a production -- it becomes easier and easier," Burna said.

"So, even though we struggle with it at times in training, when we have the real disaster, it's going to pay dividends and we know what to expect and we've rehearsed it," Burna said.

"A lot of this came from Hurricane Katrina -- a lot of (standard operating procedure) training conducted prior to, and there were a lot of lessons learned," said Capt. Nicholas M. Kiaunis, operations officer, Maryland National Guard Aviation Support Facility.

"Right now, we're just trying to keep up with everything we need to should an occasion arise," Kiaunis said.

"We gain a relationship. Also, it helps us develop tactic procedures so we can improve and do it safely," Kiaunis said.

The Maryland Army National Guard partners with the Baltimore County Police and Fire departments on May 8-9 for Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team training at Essex Sky Park.

The agencies perform quarterly helicopter disaster training for water rescues.

"We've been able to leverage the capability of everybody involved today for disaster response," Baltimore County Fire Department Lt. Michael J. Burna said.

"Typically, helicopters aren't used very frequently, but when they are, it has to be rehearsed and you have to understand what the capabilities are," Burna said.

"We generally train every 90 days," Burna said.

"It has been a partnership. We've been exercising for the past five years, and the nice part of it is the capability changes with the aircraft. So, utilizing our county police helicopter, which is a smaller aircraft, is a day-to-day operation for us, but when we have these larger events, we need a much larger platform, and that's where we've been able to partner with the Maryland Air National Guard," Burna said.

"Every time we do this -- I call it a production -- it becomes easier and easier," Burna said.

"So, even though we struggle with it at times in training, when we have the real disaster, it's going to pay dividends and we know what to expect and we've rehearsed it," Burna said.

"A lot of this came from Hurricane Katrina -- a lot of (standard operating procedure) training conducted prior to, and there were a lot of lessons learned," said Capt. Nicholas M. Kiaunis, operations officer, Maryland National Guard Aviation Support Facility.

"Right now, we're just trying to keep up with everything we need to should an occasion arise," Kiaunis said.

"We gain a relationship. Also, it helps us develop tactic procedures so we can improve and do it safely," Kiaunis said.

Helicopter rescue training prepares for disasters

National Guard, police, fire, train for rescue ops

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Updated: 3:06 AM EDT May 10, 2012

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The Maryland Army National Guard partners with the Baltimore County Police and Fire departments for Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team training at Essex Sky Park.